Costal Walks at Wallasey and West Kirby

In Brief.

Wallasey and West Kirby are costal towns towards the end of the Wirral peninsula, with views to Liverpool and North Wales, respectively. Wallasey is a substantial town, and includes the resort of New Brighton as a suburb, from which robust costal defences can be walked in both directions. West Kirby is more compact, but has a distinctive and substantial marine lake.

Looking across the Mersey to Liverpool.

What's Here?

New Brighton hosts assorted eateries and leisure facilities, including a theatre, cinema, ten-pin bowling and restaurants, near to the not especially pleasing marine lake and some rather tired looking resort facilities.  However, the Marine Point Leisure and Retail Park was doing good business on my weekday visit outside the holiday season, and after my walk I had a welcome brunch at the Marino Lounge. I chose to walk from New Brighton along the Mersey, past many elevated properties that enjoy views across to Liverpool Docks, and then the city itself. As pictured, this involves a substantial promenade, with plenty space for the many dog walkers and periodic cyclists. It is possible to get closer to nature walking on the costal path in the opposite direction from New Brighton.

Sailors on the Mersey need to avoid distraction.

West Kirby seafront is dominated by its marine lake, which seems to be popular with the locals, as many people were walking round it, while a few windsurfers were making use of the enclosed water itself. For the much more adventurous, coordinating with the tides, it is possible to walk to the Hilbre Island when the tide is out.

The path round West Kirby marine lake, with the lake to the left and the Dee estuary to the right.

Practicalities.

Distance from Manchester Town Hall: 43 miles

Drive Time: 1hour 10 minutes

Price: Free

Parking: There is free parking in both Wallasey and West Kirby

Food and Drink: There are plenty cafes near the coast in both towns.

Retail therapy: West Kirby has a small and pleasant town centre minutes from the coast. I didn't explore inland in Wallasey.

Child Friendly: Wallasey has beach resort activities that are likely to be more open in season than they were on my visit.

Toilets: Perhaps only in cafes.

Do it justice in: Depends how far you want to walk.

Inside-Outside: 0:100

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